Mid term grades. When I was in school it took me at least 3 symesters to understand that a 'midterm' wasn't the halfway point throu a symester and that any test between the begining of a sym and the final was a midterm. I supose that I could use that as an excuse for being unprepared on more than one midterm or another. But as we all know, there are no excuses.
Since the begining of the year of our Lord two thousand and seven and now I've had many tests/trials/ tribulations. But my birthday marks the only half way point. New beginings was what I pleged on the opening chapters of this year and so far I believe I've embraced my new mantra more tightly than in previous years. At every chance I've literally driven down unknown streets when given the choice of a road less traveled. I joined a new hockey league when in recent years I would have probably bailed because I know my skills have since deteriourated. I went to Whistler and used all the new gear I baught last season. And in each case I found something new or rediscovered something I loved and forgot why I stopped loving.
I can't remember if I've ever written about my best birthday ever. My roomates in Hawaii set their busy lives on screen saver for an entire day and did everything I wanted to do. It was a surprise set in motion weeks before by Kat. I don't think I ever thanked you but you know how I feel. What I remember from that day...floating on my board just outside the break in Weikiki watching the sunrise...doing all my favorite things...my first luau getting hammered with my friends...watching the sun set on the beach with my friends thinking how I was the lukiest man on earth.
This past birthday I found myself once again getting wet. Me and three of my brahdahs went to Tofino for three days. I went through a day much like my days in Hawaii, thou it wasn't much later did I realise this. I snuck out of the house quietly so no one else would awake. I creeped out with my board under my arm into the night half asleep. But this time it took a two hour ferry ride and a two hour drive before I awoke on the water half wondering how I got there. My second birthday on the water and my whole time there I thought about the first and how much I miss those days. Our first day we checked out the whole scene and settled on Chestermans south. That day we got wet when it was flat and then almost as fast it was pumpin. One local came out to meet us because he was slightly shocked that this kind of action was only enjoyed by three ppl while all the other tourist were floundering on Insieorater Rock. The Gods were on my side. That evening we chilled with the tourist at Incinerator and eventually got wet half drunk. The last time I went surfing drunk was in New Jersey and I almost drowned. This time I knew better and I only drown a little bit. After a while a group of us set out to turn out the sleepy town of Tofino but my older brah bailed and drove us to our secret camp site because we had a big day the day next. Too bad, there were a couple of cute locals I wanted to get to know in the biblical sence. Honestly I never understood that term.
The next day I awoke to some of the crapiest surf a single person should be allowed to endure. I once watched a movie when a character emphisiesd that the 'squeeze should be worth the juice.' Imagine a whole lot of paddling and only three waves riden. We spent the rest of the day drinking on the beach waiting for things to get better whilst watching a couple of surf schools do there thing. Funny thing is that the local surfers acknowleged us like we were locals and the surf students jealously admitted to me that they'd love to be able to do this every day. I supose my previous experience in Hawaii lent me the air of being a Tofino local. Thou I didn't connect those dots till I was half way home. After a day of this my bradah's and I headed home a day early. A North Van native who studies ocean conditions told us the rest of the week would be crap and that we'd have to wait till (last) Sunday for the good waves. So homeward bound was I red faced and and red handed. The only parts of me exposed outside of my wetsuit.
In Hawaii I got to the stage where I disliked tourist. I suppose that was the same time I stopped being one myself. An imported local is still a local I suppose.
I had a good birthday. Not as good as my best ever but a resonable faximile is more than reasonable. But I remembered everything I miss in Hawaii.
I got a good birthday. I got a couple of waves. I got sunburn. I lost the stiches holding my lip together.
Rhoel.
posted by R @ 2:19 AM
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